The grant programme is designed to help Scottish charities innovate and transform their homelessness services in line with the Scottish Government’s Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan.

The fund will run over three years and is being managed by Corra Foundation on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan, which resulted from the work of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, sets out actions for how the Scottish Government, local authorities, the third sector and the housing sector can drive real and lasting change towards ending homelessness in Scotland.

The action plan includes a strong focus on preventing homelessness for those at risk; embedding person-centred approaches to service delivery; joined-up planning and resources for tackling homelessness quickly; and finding appropriate and settled accommodation.

Significant progress has already been made, in the first year of the action plan, 39 of the 49 recommended actions have been addressed with 10 completed (see: annual report). Every local authority has produced a Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.

Through the Housing First Pathfinder over 175 people with multiple and complex needs have been found settled homes with person-centred wraparound support. There is, however, a long way to go.

The Third Sector Homelessness Fund, which forms part of the government’s £50 million Ending Homelessness Fund, is designed specifically to support third sector organisations as they seek to adapt to the transition that local authorities are undertaking to a rapid rehousing model.

The fund is seeking to support projects that trial different and innovative approaches to service delivery, and that are working to build cross-sector collaboration between third sector organisations, local authorities and other statutory services.

Kevin Stewart, housing minister, said: “Ending homelessness requires strong partnership and collaboration across government, local authorities, the third sector and the wider public sector.

“Based on the positive progress to change systems and approaches I have seen over the last year alongside the determined effort that is obvious across the sector, I believe the foundations are in place to realise the vision of a Scotland where homelessness no longer exists.

“This new fund will support third sector organisations as they adapt how their services are delivered in line with the Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan and in context with each local authority’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.”